Eileen Alice Baxter, daughter of Margaret and John F. Baxter, was a light in her family from the moment of her birth and is already deeply missed by her devoted friends, many colleagues, and entire family, including her siblings (Jay; Tad, who she has joined in heaven; Peggy; and Neale); her cousins, both those still with us (Bill, Wendy, and Linda) and those who are deceased (Peter, Kenny, Patricia, Phyllis, Phoebe, and Priscilla); and her legion of nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, and younger cousins of every degree. Eileen loved all her aunts and uncles, all of whom have passed, and reserved a special place in her heart for Aunt Evelyn, who took Eileen under her wing at a young age after her mother died.
A lifelong Queens resident, Eileen was a proud graduate of St. Agnes High School, later serving on its board for many years. She earned a bachelor's degree, with a major in American history, from Villanova University, where she made dear friends she kept her entire life. She later had advanced training in computer science at New York University before starting a long and rewarding career at New York Life Insurance Company as a computer specialist.
Eileen was sharp with her wit and with a needle. She was an avid quilter and welcomed scores of babies into the world with her handmade blankets. She was active in the Prayer and Stitch sewing group at St. Sebastian's church. She was an outstanding cook, keeping many family recipes alive; a reader of both history and fiction (she revisited the novels of Jane Austen annually); a great fan of New York sports and Villanova basketball; and an enthusiastic lover of Christmas, with a personal army of decorative snowmen.
She was very generous to many charities throughout her life, including her alma mater, veterans organizations, and religious communities. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Villanova University, the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, Corpus Christi Church of Woodwide, Queens, or a charity of your choice.
